Robins fail to make it a delightful dozen - The Evesham Observer

Robins fail to make it a delightful dozen

Evesham Editorial 6th Dec, 2016   0

Taunton Town 2 Evesham United 1

Southern League Division One South & West

UNITED’S hopes of achieving a club record-breaking 12th successive league victory were ended at the Viridor Stadium on Saturday as they tasted league defeat for the first time since August 29.

Matt Wright netted both goals for the Peacocks to end Evesham’s 11-match winning streak and, although Paul Fahy pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time, Taunton held on to claim a hard earned win.




Despite the defeat, United boss Paul Collicutt was upbeat and said afterwards: “I cannot criticise the boys after taking 33 points out of a possible 36.

“It was a keenly contested game and a good advert for the league.


“I was disappointed to concede the first goal from a set-piece after giving away a soft free kick but Taunton are a very good side and because of their FA Cup run are in false position and will be up there at the end of the season.

“We have some massive games coming up, starting with second placed Tiverton Town at our place on Saturday, and we’ll be looking to start another long unbeaten run.”

United posed the first threat when leading scorer Lance Smith pulled his shot just wide, but it was Taunton who delighted their biggest league crowd of the season by taking a 13th-minute lead.

Nick Stanley was guilty of a foul on the right and Ross Staley’s free kick was headed home by Wright.

Mark Magee then diverted a header wide at the opposite end despite Taunton claiming the United striker had used a hand.

Both sides displayed neat approach play without creating too many chances as the first half drew to a close with the hosts holding a slender 1-0 lead.

However, eight minutes after half time Wright scored again to make it 2-0 with a curling shot beyond Kevin Sawyer into the far corner.

United got stronger as the second half progressed and pulled a goal back through Fahy in the 75th minute with a powerful drive from outside the box.

By this stage the Red & Whites looked threatening in the final third and home keeper Lloyd Irish was forced to make good saves from substitutes Adam Mann and Leroy Odiero, before Smith was twice sent tumbling in the box only for United to have penalty shouts turned down.

In a last-ditch attempt to rescue a point Sawyer was sent upfield but, despite forcing a number of late corners, United failed to deliver an equaliser and the impressive sequence of victories finally came to an end.

Evesham, now third, are also in action on Tuesday when they visit Didcot Town in a rearranged fixture.

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